GATHER: The official opening night party for REFRACT

Chihuly Garden and Glass is hosting GATHER on Thursday, October 15, the official opening night party for REFRACT. The evening runs from 7 PM to 10 PM, with doors opening at 6:30 PM.

REFRACT itself is a celebration of three milestones in the glass community: 50 years of PRATT Fine Arts Center, 35 years of Seattle Glassblowing Studio, and the 30th anniversary of Chihuly Over Venice. The party is built around that, with glassblowing demonstrations by artists throughout the night, a VIP tour of Chihuly Garden and Glass, music, hors d'oeuvres, and signature cocktails. It's a night for the glass community to mark those anniversaries together, and the demonstrations give you a look at the actual work that's been at the center of all three.

Since the evening is built around the glassblowing, the demonstrations are the main draw, and the VIP tour lets you see the venue after hours. The music, hors d'oeuvres, and cocktails fill in the gaps between the two. It's a party that's as much about the people as the glass, and the three anniversaries it's celebrating—PRATT, Seattle Glassblowing Studio, and Chihuly Over Venice—span five decades of the city's glass scene.

Entry is restricted to over-21s with ID, and tickets must be bought online in advance. Doors open at 6:30 PM, and the party runs from 7 PM to 10 PM on Thursday, October 15, at Chihuly Garden and Glass.